During a press conference on Friday, President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen dismissed claims that his administration’s increased unemployment benefits are disincentivizing American workers to take jobs as job openings begin to reach near-record levels.
The latest job report from the Labor Department showed that U.S. employers added 266,000 jobs throughout April, While during March 770,000 jobs were added. The report also showed that the U.S. unemployment rate increased from 6% to 6.1%.
At the press conference, Biden was asked whether or not the federal increase of $300 per week had any effect on the diminishing job numbers.
“No, nothing measurable,” Biden said, insisting that job recovery is a “marathon” not a “sprint.”
“This month’s jobs numbers show we’re on the right track,” Biden added.
Earlier in the week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a large business lobbying group, called on the Biden administration to end the increased unemployment benefits that were implemented during the pandemic.
“One step policymakers should take now is ending the $300 weekly supplemental unemployment benefit. Based on the Chamber’s analysis, the $300 benefit results in approximately one in four recipients taking home more in unemployment than they earned working,” Neil Bradly, the business lobbying group’s executive vice president, said.
Following the release of April’s job report, House Representative Kevin Brady said, “This is a stunning economic setback, and unequivocal proof that President Biden is sabotaging our jobs recovery with promises of higher taxes and regulation on local businesses that discourage hiring and drive jobs overseas.”
